Manufacture of golf-balls.



No. 696,354. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. H. RICHARDS.

MANUFACTURE OF GOLF BALLS.

(Application filed Jan 8, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Mar, 25, I902.

F. H. RICHARDS.

w w w G m: NORMS runs on From. me WASHINGTON n c rrrrnn ra'rns Fa'rnn r Orrin FRANCIS II. RICIIARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEIWIPSHALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MANUFACTURE OF GOLF-BALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,354, dated March 25, 1902.

Application filed January 8, 1902. Serial No, 88,842. (No model.)

To all whom it may concerwz Preferably I employ a hollow .sphere A,

Beit known that I, FRANCIS l-I. RICHARDS, a made of soft india-rubber, preferably a comeitizen of the United States, residing at Hartpound having firmness or toughness and ford, in the county of Hartford and State of highly vulcanized. An opening B may com- 5 Connecticut, have invented certain new and .municate with the hollow C of the sphere, useful Improvements in the Manufacture of which may be made either integral, as at Fig. Golf-Balls, of which the following is a specifi- 6, or of hemispheres A and A Fig. 5, said cation. hemispheres being suitably united. I place This invention relates to balls such as used the sphere in a spherical chamber D, formed IO in golf and other games; and its object is to in a mold consisting of opposing halves E produce a ball of improved quality and inand F, having registering dowels G, and creased efficiency, and especially to increase clamped together by any suitable means. its flying power when given a hard blow with- Each of said members E and F may have oneout unduly increasing its sensitiveness to a half of the chamber D and which maybe con- I 5 light blow. I aim to produce a ball which is siderably larger than the spherical blank A. capable of absorbing from an implement a Into the opening B in the latter I insert the great momentum; to secure an improved comouth of a funnel H, which is shown as peneoperative action between the several portions trating into the hollow C, although this is not of the ball, particularly of the shell or cover important in all cases. If no opening is pro- 7o 20 and the layer lying immediately within the vided in the blank, a funnel of suitable shape same, and especially to minimize distortion may be forced through the rubber at any of the ball, so as to avoid waste of force in point. By means of the funnel the interior changing its shape; to produce a ball having C of the ball is placed in communication with uniform action, so that a given blow may a vessel or receptacle J, formed or provided 25 always produce the same result, thus conducin the apparatus above the chamber D, said ing to reliability and accuracy of action, and receptacle preferably being round and having also to prolong the life of the ball. To these a closely-fitting plunger K. I place in the reends I preferably compress a layer of soft ceptacle J a quantity of material, preferably rubber between a core of gutta-percha and a gut-ta-percha, which may by the action of heat 3o shell of celluloid, said rubber layer consistbe reduced to a plastic or fluid condition, as ing of a hollow sphere previously distended at L, Fig. 3. This material flows down the upon said core. funnel II into the hollow of the rubber sphere In the drawings forming part of this spci- A and drives out the air through a vent M, fication, Figure 1 is a view of a finished ball which in thisinstance isillustratedasagroove 35 made in accordance with my present imformed in the side wall of the opening-B and provements, a portion thereof being broken lying without the funnel II. In the portion away, so as to exhibit its construction. Fig. F of the said mold there may be provideda 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the vent N, communicating at P with the. ballmanner of compressing a shell upon an inner vent M, so that the air escaping from the ball 0 ball. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a stage in may be conducted out of the apparatus. The. the process of forming an inner ball. Fig. 4 fluid or plastic material may therefore settle is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the or be forced by the plunger K through the process at a later stage. Fig. 5 is a crossfunnel H, so as to completely fill the interior section of a blank used in forming a portion of the ball A, whereupon the vent N in the 5 45 of my improved ball, indicating one way of mold may be closed by a screw-plug Q, Fig. 4:, making said blank in sections. Fig. 6 is a the overflow of the material into or through View of a blank made in one piece, and Fig. said vent indicating to the workman that the 7 is aview of a distended sphere which forms hollow C has been filled. By means of suitthe center piece or filling of a finished ball. able appliances the plunger K may be pressed 50 In the several views similar parts are desstill farther down, so as to force more of the ignated by similar characters of reference. filling material into the interior of the ball,

ISO

causing the walls thereof to yield and distending the ball until it completely fills the large spherical chamber D in the mold, as at Fig. 4. The air may escape from the chamber between the mold-sections or through a vent T. Sufficient force may be applied, if desired, to compress the rubber shell between the guttapercha and the walls of the chamber. The gutta-peroha or other material may pass from a liquid into a dry or hard condition while the plunger is still pressed down, so that the core thus formed is in a state of compression and so that the expanded condition of the spherical rubber envelop A is made permanent by reason of this solidification of the core, (indicated by R, Figs. 1, 2, and 4..) The core is thus closely joined to the envelop in which it is molded. The mold- E F may then be taken apart and the ball removed, the funnel H being withdrawn and the hole (if any) left therebyin the ball being filled with a rubber plug S, Fig. 7. The aperture B M may be omitted from the blank A, and instead of the funnel H a pointed injector may be forced through the blank at any point, rendering unnecessary the subsequent plugging. Preferably the diameter of the core R is more than half that of the distended envelop A In practice I find that by making the core two-thirds of the diameter of the distended envelop excellent results are obtained when the core is made of gutta-percha compressed and the shell is of a firm quality of highly-vulcanized indiarubber.

The principal effect of expanding a core within the envelop resides in producing a longitudinal tension of the latter, such tension, which of course extends in alldirections around the ball, being indicated by concentric broken lines A at Figs. 2 and 4 and being most pronounced at or near the outer or surface portion of the ball. The inner portion of said envelop is also now in a state of compression between the outer-portion of the envelop and the core, such compression be-:

ing indicated by radial lines A and being greatest near the inner surface of the envelop,

where said'radial lines are thickest. this stage the inner portion of the envelop is Thusat.

practically in a state of tension and consider-1 able compression, the median portion is also] bothnom pressed and tensioned, while the extremeouter portion is in a stateof tension only. The ball thus formed is placed between hemispherical shell-segments land 2, Fig. 2, formed, preferably, of celluloid in asuitable condition, preferably somewhat green or not completely cured, and these assembled parts are placed between forming-dies, as 3 aud t, whereupon the dies are brought together by means of suitable mechanism, whereby the shell segments (whichare preferably toola'rge to fit snugly'in the dies) are forced together until their edges are in intimate contact,preferablyeffecting a weld. The material of the shell-segments is cemented or otherwise put in proper condition for the adherence of their forming the shell thereon.

edges under pressure, and when required the dies may be heated by steam or otherwise for bringing the material of the segments into suitable condition and consistency for compressing and uniting them and'completing the ball, as at 1, Fig. 1. If desired, the outer surface of the envelop A or the inner surface of the shell-segments or all of said surfaces may be first given an application of suitable material or otherwise treated or prepared, so that the shell may be caused to cling or adhere more tenaciously to the said envelop A The abutting edges of the original segments at 1 and 2 may be made somewhat full, thereby to furnish material for properly forming the joint between them as they are subjected to the final compression, at which operation the ball is finally shaped, and at the same time the material of the shell is compressed between the dies and the resisting center piece (including the spherical rubber envelop A and the core R) Within the shell. This center piece is first prepared somewhat oversize, and when the shell is compressed over the same the resistance of the center piece While under such compression furnishes a substantial support for sustaining the shell against the pressure of the formingdies. Owing to the tension of the rubber envelop it is not liable to squeeze out between the edges of the segments as they come together. The celluloid shell is allowed to cool before the completed ball is removed from the dies. The compression and heating solidifies and toughens the celluloid, so that it becomes highly resistant or springy and practically indestructible, and also places the envelop A under external compression, whereby the core R is also affected to a certain extent. The rubber envelop being highly vulcanized is enabled to withstand the heat applied in Thus it will be seen that the core R is in a compressed condition, while the envelop A is in a condition throughout of longitudinal distension and transverse compression, due partly to the compressing effect of the distended outer portion thereof at A and also to the reduction of its mass resulting from compressing the shell 1 thereon. At the same time the shell 1 is in a state of longitudinal tension due to the'constant outward pressure of the rubber envelop A The material of the entire ball from center to periphery is hence, at least to some extent, under pressure or tension, or both, and hence in an abnormal highly alert condition, so that every particle of the ball which feels the impact of a blow acts with promptness and vigorin response thereto,and

an extraordinary degree of efficiency is atof the ball and also, as will be manifest, calling into action a large portion or all of the mass confined within the shell and causing it to cooperate effectually with the latter in instantly restoring the ball to normal form. It will also be understood that the outward pressure of the rubberenvelop A has the usefuleffect ofconstantly tendingto maintain the shell 1 in a true spherical form, and hence aids materially in the instant restoration of the shell to its spherical shape after a blow. In other words, the alteration of the shell from its true spherical form diminishes its interior capacity, hence putting under further compression every portion of the mass confined therewithin, including the elastic core R, and since every particle of the imprisoned mass actively opposes such compression the original form of the shell is re gained while it is still in contact with the implement, withthe result that the ball flies a phenomenal distance. Moreover, this very opposition of the confined mass to further compression renders it of especial value as a support or backing for the somewhat frangible material of the shell, inasmuch as by effectively opposing violent distortion at any;

particular point it prevents the shell from denting sharply enough to produce a crack or rupture, thus improving the capacity of the ball for withstanding harsh usage. It will also be understood that the resilient and ruptureproof characteristics of the ball are greatly augmented by reason of the compressed condition of the confined inner ball, (includingthe rubber sphere and the core 1%,) since it is rendered unnecessary for the shell to yield to a great depth in order to set up in.

the confined mass a degree of compression sufficient to properly support the shell against a blow. In other words, the first effect of a blow upon aplaying-ball is usually to compress the material thereof until the limit of compression is reached, so that-thereafter the" implement canonlyimpart momentum to the body of the ball without further distortion of the same; but by having said inner ballin an initial state of high compression the preliminary work of compression to be performed by the implement is materially reduced and the time during which the implement is occupied in compressing the ball is shortened,- with the result that it is enabled more effectively to impart momentum directly to the ball, while better opportunity is afforded for the elasticity ofthe ball to comeinto play be: fore it leaves the implement. Thus the tense conditionof the inner ball is advantageous not only in cushioning or distributing the effect of the blow over a comparatively large area of the shell 1 to prevent undue indenta-V,

tionand fracture thereof, but also inthat it quickly reaches its limit of compression undera blow and with great energy springs back short, the ball has capacity for receiving a large amount of power by transmission from the driverwith a minimum amount of transformation of power into work within the ball itself, and its efficiency is due in large measure to putting the elastic envelop A in a state of high initial tension by means of a highly-compressed solid core. It will also be understood that when the ball is struck lightly by an implement it does not respond to the blow with so much promptness as to render the ball too sprin gy for short drives or plays. In other words, when given a very light blow its latent elasticity is not brought into play and it acts more like a dead ball; but when struck a blow of medium force considerable of its latent power is called forth, and when given a severe blow it exhibitslphenomenalienergy. In some playing-balls the energy developed by the ball is proportionate to the force of the blow; but in the present instance the flying power of the ball increases vastly out of proportion to the force of the blow, thus rendering it in the highest degree desirable for bothshort plays and long drives; The shell is so stiff that a blow which is sufficient to send-the ball a few feet-or yards is insufficient to flex the shell, and hence the sen-, sitiveness of the filling is not brought into use. A little harder blow flexes the shell slightly, but only affects a portion of the comparatively soft outer surface of the elastic envelop-A so that the latter to a moderate extent cooperates with the shell in reacting upon the implement. When a severe blow is given the ball, allportions thereof are broughtinto resilient action, as explained, the resistingaction ofthe, compressed resilient core R beingofgreat importance in enabling the ball to gather headway. luloid and even-material notanalogous thereto may be employed forthe shell, still I'prefer celluloid. This materialbeingonly slightly compressibleand-the amount of fiexure which may be given it by a blow without injury thereto being comparatively limited,1an important advantage of m y'inventionrresides in the efficient and uniform backingwhioh is given a shellof this nature, whereby thehighest efficiency of the ball is developed. The celluloid shell, it will also be understood, is smooth, and-hence offersa minimum of-resistance to the flowing of airoverits surface,

during the flight of the ball andby reason ofits slippery nature receives less opposition from the grass through which it is-dri-ven during the games, It not only retainsits color, but also resistsbeing chipped by an implement or'stone against which it may be driven. In using the term fcelluloid I refer to celluloid compounds generally, and do not limit myself to' any particular variety of such compound or to any particular grade or mixture of celluloidcomposition. Said: core R not only itself absorbs momentum from the implement,.butvalso by reason of its solidity, prevents undue distortion of the ball, envelop Although other material thancel- IIO A and as well of the shell 1, nearly all of the force going from the implement to the ball being hence utilized to impart velocity thereto. It will also be understood that under the shock of a blow the solid core, if slightly displaced from its true central posi tion, affects somewhat the material of the envelop A at the opposite side of the ball from the implement and also affects other portions of the envelop, so that by reason of such displacement almost if not all of the material of the envelop is called into greater action and more powerfully reacts, thereby imparting a higher degree of activity or liveliness to the ball and causing the same to leave the implement at higher velocity. It will be understood that the result of ablow will depend upon the velocity and weight of the implement, as well as upon the weight of the ball, the depth of the depression produced in the ball, and especially upon the ratio of increase in resistance offered therebyin proportion to the force of the blow. In this instance this ratio is very high. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is not limited in all casesto the use of a springy center piece or core at R, since other cores may be employed within the scope of the invention so long as a spherical or segmental elastic hollow ball or shell is permanently expanded over a solid or hard core which is too large for the original capacity of the former.

An important advantage of my invention resides in the durability of the ball, since for the envelop A I employ rubber of firm texture and highly vulcanized, and hence not liable to deterioration, so that the ball not only withstands severe usage, but remains in its 'original elastic condition for a long time and remains intact even if the shell is destroyed. Excellent results are obtained by subjecting the well-cured rubber envelop to tension, which is moderate relatively to the strength of the rubber, thereby condncing to long life of the ball. Moreover, by tensioning therubber after the manner of my invention it is given a remarkable promptness in action, and the abnormal condition of the rubber is obtained in large part, at least, in-

dependently of the shell, hence avoiding the objection of subjecting the shell to destructive internal pressure. The tension is in all directions around the circumference of said envelop, and hence the activity of all of its particles is fully developed, or, in short, the ball carries no dead-weight. Moreover, the rubber envelop is heavy in proportion to its bulk, thus enabling considerable Weight to be stored in a small shell, thus avoiding air resistance, while having capacity for prolonged flight. Moreover, my improved ball has a uniform solidity or density, and hence the same blow always produces the same result, enabling the user to play to better advantage. Should the original rubber blank A be somewhat imperfect or irregular in construction or form, the expansion and solidification of the core in the described manner is found to compensate for such imperfection or irregularity, since the rubber envelop is caused to fit smoothly to the walls of the spherical chamber D in the mold, and such irregularities as may exist are caused to develop upon the inner surface of said envelop, where they become embedded with the solid core and hence are rendered unobjectionable. Thus I produce a smooth true curvature of the periphery of the envelop, which is a desideratum. The core R is accurately centered in the envelop and the latter in the shell, so that the ball tends to run true instead of in asinuous path, as is the case with some playing-balls.

My presentimprovements are applicablenot only to golf-balls, but also at least in part to balls for usein playingbilliards and analogous games, and it will be understood that the thickness of the shell and also the firmness and relative size of the center pieces may be varied in accordance with the requirements of any particular game or use for which the balls may be employed.

The exterior surface of golf-balls may be pebbled or scored. In Fig. 1 the ball is represented as furnished on the exterior surface with relatively slight elevations of a spherical conformation. In billiard-balls of course the outer surface should usually be smooth and spherical.

Many variations in construction, arrangement, and method maybe resorted to within the scope of my invention.

In an application filed by Eleazer Kempshall September 27, 1901, Serial No. 76,814, is described and claimed a playing-ball having a celluloid shell compressed upon a yielding filling or core, and in another application filed by him December 18, 1901, Serial No. 86,348, is claimed the process of making a ball with a celluloid shell. In my pending application, filed December 8, 1901, Serial No. 81,529, is described and claimed the device used in my present improvements as a blank and illustrated at Fig. 7 herein, and in my other pending application, Serial No. 85,140, filed December 9, 1001, is claimed the process of making such blank. The claims herein are limited to novel. features of invention not disclosed in any of said applications.

The herein-described playing-ball is made the subject-matter of my other pending application, filed December 14:, 1901, Serial No. 85,892.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in filling and distending a hollow sphere by forcing a fluent mass thereinto, and providing said distended sphere with a hard, wear-resisting shell.

2. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in forcing a fluent mass into the interior of a yielding sphere, hardening said mass to form a core, and compressing a shell upon said sphere.

3. A process in producing playing-balls, consistinginreducingmaterialtoafluentcondition, forcing it into a hollow sphere so as to fill and distend the latter, allowing said material to dry. or harden so as to form a core, and incasing said sphere in celluloid.

4. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in molding a core within a previously-formed hollow sphere, and securing a wear-resisting cover upon said sphere.

5. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in distending a solid soft-rubber sphere upon a core, and forming acover upon said envelop.

6. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in distending a rubber envelop upon a core of gutta-percha, inclosing said envelop in a celluloid shell, heating said shell sufficiently to soften the celluloid, subjecting the shell while heated to compression upon said envelop, and maintaining the compression until the shell cools and hardens.

'7. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in forcing a mass through a hole into a hollow sphere so as to fill the hollow and form a core, then plugging said hole, and then compressing a shell upon said sphere.

8. A process in producing playingballs, consistingin reducing a mass of solid matter to a fluent condition, introducing said mass through a hole in a hollow rubber sphere until said sphere is distended, thenplugging up said hole, and then compressing a shell upon said sphere under heat and pressure.

9. A process in producing playing-balls, consistingin reducing a mass of yielding solid matter to a Iluent condition, forcing said mass into a hollow rubber, sphere, until said sphere is distended, causing said mass to harden While under pressure, and compressing a shell upon said sphere.

10. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in reducing solid matter to a tluent state by means of heat, forcing said matter into a hollow sphere, and compressing a moldable shell upon said sphere by means of heat and pressure.

11. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in heating gutta-percha, introducing it into a hollow rubber sphere, and molding a shell of celluloid upon said sphere.

12. A process in producing playing-balls, consistingin heating gutta-percha, forcingit into a hollow rubber sphere so as to distend the latter and form a core. therewithin, and compressing upon said sphere a shell of moldable material.

13. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in heating gutta-percha, then forcint, it through a hole into the interior of a hollow rubbersphere so as to distend the latter, then plugging said hole with rubber, and then compressing a celluloid shell upon said sphere.

14:. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in heating gutta-percha, forcing it into a hollow rubber sphere so as to distend the latter, allowing said gutta-percha to solidify under pressure, and molding a celluloid shell upon said sphere under heat and pressure.

15. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in forming a sottrubber hollow sphere with a vent, inserting a funnel into said sphere, heating gutta-percha, causing said gutta-percha to flow through said funnel and force out the air through said vent, subjecting the gutta-percha to pressure so as to distend said rubber sphere, preventing the escapeof the gutta-percha through said vent during the application of pressure, allowing the gutta-percha to harden under pressure,

withdrawing the funnel, plugging the vent,

inclosing said sphere in spherical segments of celluloid, and welding said segments and compressing said shell under heat and pressure.

16. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in placing a hollow sphere of rubber within a larger spherical chamber, forcing heated gutta-percha into said sphere until it distendssufficiently to fill said chamber, solidifying said gutta percha while said sphere remainsin said chamber, withdrawing said sphere from said chamber, and compressing shell-segments upon said sphere under heat and pressure.

17. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in placing a hollow sphere of rubber within a larger spherical chamber, forcing heated gutta-percha into said sphere, thereby causing the same to distend and to be compressed against the walls of said chamber, and drying -or solidifying said guttapercha before removing said sphere from said chamber, and compressing celluloid shell-seg ments upon said sphere by means of heat and pressure. a i

18. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in placing a hollow sphere of rubber within a larger spherical chamber, forcingheated gutta-percha into said sphere until it distends sufficiently to fill said chamber, allowing said guttapercha to solidify while said sphere remains in said chamber, plugging the opening in the sphere through which the gutta-perchaisinjected, and compressing a shell upon said sphere so as to hold the same under external compression.

19. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in forming ahollowspheire of firm, highly-vulcanized rubber, inserting a funnel into said sphere, placing said sphere within a spherical chamber of larger diameter, heating gutta-percha, causing said gutta-percha to flow through said funnel into the interior of said sphere and drive out the air, preventing continued escape of gutta-percha, subjecting the gutta-percha to pressure so asto distend said sphere until it fills said chamber, causing said gutta-percha to solidify while under pressure, and forming a celluloid shell upon saidsphere under heat andprossure. p

20. A process in producing playing-balls,

fiuent'mass into the sphere so as to distend the latter, and molding a shell upon said sphere.

22. A process in producing playing-balls, consisting in forming a ball from a soft-rubber sphere by molding a hard core in said sphere and also inclosing said sphere in a wear-resisting shell; said process including an operation whereby said sphere is compressed between said core and said shell.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

B. O. STICKNEY, FRED. J. DOLE. 

